Hidden in the shadows, or out in the light...
There shall be nothing to stop that which is right!
All who tread upon the innocent with their might...
Prepare to know fear, and now face the Judge's smite!
Justicar Corps Timeline
Third Astral Era (~5000 y/a)
During the downturn in Allagan civilization in its later years, a scientist-entertainer creates the concept of the Justicar Corps as a combination of a science experiment and moving-picture reality show. Thirteen rings tethered to a battery that absorbs ambient aether from its surroundings are ‘gifted’ to the inhabitants of a region of the Allagan Empire known for lacking the ability to wield magicks, suddenly giving 13 randomly-selected locals the ability to sling vast amounts of aether around. The intention was to create wacky fun antics for people to watch in real-time as people unused to magic were forced to adjust to suddenly having a limited number of artificially empowered mages in their midst, tasked with ‘maintaining law and order’ in the largely lawless desert region.
A glitch in the rings’ artificial intelligence, however, led to every ring selecting its Judge for ideal personality type. With everyone doing a good job, entertainment levels petered out after a few years, and the project was canceled shortly after Xande’s resurrection and all involved scientists were executed for ‘wasting everyone's time’. Technology gifted to the locals was simply left in place when the grant money dried up, because sending a team to remove it all would have been too much trouble and they were too busy trying to open a portal to the World of Darkness now anyway.
Fourth Era-Fifth Era: Golden Age
Judges, though small in number, represent a regular part of individual life in the wastes. Trustworthy and dependable, a Judge showing up to mediate a dispute is generally considered to be a good thing. During the Fifth Era Ivalician government, the Justicar Corps augmented their operations with advanced technology and commanded a relatively sizable force of un-powered auxiliaries known as Rangers out of their headquarters, the Tower of Law.
Sixth Astral Era
Year 1
The Tower of Law’s artificial intelligence, ASTRAEA, conducts the standard post-Calamity systems check, tower damage report, and inventory. During the check, she notices a typo in the rings' operating code and patches it. This reactivates the dormant selection system, which the creators had intended to ‘make things interesting'. The personality identification process, previously stuck on the dutiful repeated picking of people with the ‘Paragon’ personality type, promptly randomly selects two Paragons, two Jesters, a Rogue, and five Idiots to hold the ten remaining rings. Hilarity ensues, unless you were a survivor hoping for quality assistance in your time of need, in which case eh.
1547
The Judges take part in the last desperate defense against the sudden invasion of the Garlean Empire. Most are killed in the initial battles, though a few survive to join the last bastion of Free Dalmasca at Nalbina Fortress.
1548
After ascertaining that the technology involved in Judge candidate selection is too advanced for them to subvert or destroy (and pissing off ASTRAEA in the attempt to the point where she repurposes the not-insubstantial Allagan defenses of the Tower of Law to indiscriminately attack any Garlean forces approaching within a quarter-malm exclusion zone surrounding the tower), the IV Legion establishes a new relationship with the AI ‘allowing’ a new crop of Judges to be selected, under care of a single Garlean liason officer stationed in the Tower. Judges are prohibited from interfering in any enforcement action taken by Garlean forces or ‘disturbing the public order’, leaving them largely relegated to patrolling settlements.
Current
During the uprising following the liberation of Ala Mhigo and Doma, the most recent batch of Judges voted to side with the Dalmascan Resistance. Most were killed at the Battle of Rabanastre, where the ancient city was reduced to rubble.
Active Judges
Chief Justice/Dozpha Brock - Captured by Garleans and immediately switched sides once no one was around to yell at him about it. Currently working directly for Tiberius sas Zakim.
Judge Aurelia/Hana - Captured by forces under the command of Michelus goe Aurochs and publically executed. Revived by the Aurum Ring. Active, in retirement.
Judge Azurus/Stevus Becker - Survived the Battle of Rabanastre, captured by Tiberius sas Zakim with the aid of Dozpha Brock while attempting to drink himself to death. Taken back to Garlemald for ‘reorientation’ and pressed into service.
Judge Sombra/Kairi - Captured by forces under the command of Michelus goe Aurochs and publically executed. Revived by the Shadow Ring and returned to service. Repeatedly. She wishes it would stop.
Judge Lumina/”Gibbs” - Gibbs, first name unknown, has been wielding the Astral Ring for over 500 years. Due to a glitch in the ring’s programming, he is invariably returned to life shortly after suffering any deadly injury. This has not done wonders for the poor man’s sanity.
Judge Thorn/East O'hteco - A newly minted Judge, East is not fully aware of what exactly this strange ring attached to him means, or what will become of this seemingly random event.
some royal jewels were stolen from the louvre which is unfortunate for historical reasons but you gotta appreciate a classic crime. so many crimes are online these days it’s nice to see heist culture is still alive
you ever just…. fall into a burning ring of fire? and go down, down, down as the flames get higher? and like it burns burns burns etc. the ring of fire lol